Cooper's Hawk: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Hawks and Falcons · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. Its old nicknames include big blue darter, flying cross and swift hawk. Many of them celebrate how nimbly it chases fast prey.
2. When chasing bats, a Cooper's hawk can follow every twist and turn. It may catch one in up to 90% of its tries.
3. Sometimes two hawks hunt as a team: one dashes after the prey while the other waits on the far side of a tree or thicket.
4. People once thought these hawks avoided towns. Now they are fairly common in cities and suburbs, where pigeons and doves are easy to find.
5. Young hawks have been seen lying on their backs along a branch, apparently to soak up the sun. It is rare, but it has been reported several times.

The quiz

1. What do many of the Cooper's hawk's nicknames, like big blue darter, refer to?

• Its loud song
• Its agility when chasing prey (correct)
• Its huge nests
• Its love of water

Many names point to its great agility in hunting evasive prey.

2. How often can a Cooper's hawk succeed when chasing bats?

• Never
• About 1% of the time
• In up to 90% of tries (correct)
• In about half of tries

It can follow every turn and may succeed in up to 90% of bat hunts.

3. How do two Cooper's hawks sometimes hunt together?

• One chases while the other waits behind a tree (correct)
• They take turns sleeping
• One sings to distract the prey
• They dig a trap in the ground

In a tandem hunt, one bird dashes after the prey while its partner lies in wait behind a tree.

4. Where are Cooper's hawks now fairly common, though people once thought they avoided it?

• The open ocean
• Deserts with no trees
• Cities and suburbs (correct)
• Arctic sea ice

Once thought to shun towns, they now live and even nest in cities and suburbs.

5. What have young Cooper's hawks been seen doing on branches?

• Hanging upside down like bats
• Building ice nests
• Drumming like woodpeckers
• Lying on their backs in the sun (correct)

Some young hawks lie on their backs along a branch, apparently sunbathing.

More about the Cooper's Hawk

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries